Every student is unique. It is not possible for an average student to become a gifted one or a student who needs special attention, neither is the case when it comes to the gifted one nor with the one who needs special attention. The job of a teacher is one of the toughest ones, as it requires dexterity to another level because there are different sets of students to deal with and there are different treatment levels involved altogether in the process of learning and training. With only limited amount of time it is not possible for teachers to do full justice to their ability, therefore to solve this problem educators have developed a solution which involves 6 models of blended learning.
The whole concept of blended learning is based on introducing online experiences to face-to-face delivery. These models have helped enhance training and learning programs of eLearning to a large extent. In this article, we will get to know about the 6 Models of Blended Learning and how have the affected students’ retention power and grasping ability, as well as how has eLearning helped them in making the whole process of learning and training easier.
The 6 Models of Blended Learning are as follows:
- THE FACE TO FACE DRIVER MODEL: This model works best for classrooms that have diverse sets of students. In this model, generally only some students take part in the eLearning components. The students, who are at a level above the standard grade, can proceed at their own paces. This provides them with opportunities to face challenges by eradicating boredom too. While the students who are at a level below the standard grade, are given extra attention and are given skill alleviation training lessons to enhance their learning ability. And the advantage of eLearning is seen fully in this case as it allows these students to invent their own techniques and practice them to master in the same. This in turn results in increase in content retention power.
- THE ROTATION MODEL: This is one of the best models, because it involves rotation of the methods of learning. There is a set time-table according to which students have face-to-face training and learning sessions with their teacher and then they move on to eLearning or vice versa. This model is found to be best in the environments where there are sets of students, for example, there is a classroom in which there are two types of students. First set of students belongs to the ones who are good at reading, while the other belongs to the ones who are good at calculation. So, in this case, the students who are having trouble in reading and are good at calculations will have face-to-face training with their teacher before going to the eLearning session for calculation, and vice versa for the ones who are good at reading but have trouble in calculation. In this way, struggling students get to have an interactive session with their teacher to find solutions to their problems.
- THE FLEX MODEL: This model is more inclined towards eLearning instructional delivery or training, and the need of teachers is just limited to being facilitators. This model is suitable for students who have attendance problem, or who have been placed in part-time schooling, or the ones who are considered to be at-risk, or the ones whom traditional schooling did not suit.
- THE ONLINE LAB SCHOOL MODEL: This is the model that is entirely based on the eLearning concept. There are no certified teachers appointed in the school, rather trained professionals are present on hand that supervise the whole training and learning program. This model is suitable for those students who are looking for eLearning based courses, who need flexibility of time, who have budget constraints or the ones who want to progress at a faster pace than the traditional classroom.
- THE SELF-BLEND MODEL: This model allows its students to gain what is not taught in traditional classrooms, which means, it provides knowledge beyond what is given in conventional classroom programs. It proves out to be a supplement to the regular courses of study. The self-blend model is suitable for those students who are looking for additional learning in a specific content, or the ones who want to learn in advance to apply for higher placements, and for the ones who are highly motivated to learn more.
- THE ONLINE DRIVER MODEL: The last and the final model is the Online Driver Model. It is completely opposite to the face-to-face instructional background. It is completely inclined towards eLearning training course. This model has proved out to be solution for the students who have chronic illness or are handicapped because it just requires them to operate and work from wherever they want to. They can receive all the required content and instructions through eLearning platforms. They can also “check-in” to the portal if they want to have interaction with teachers, which can be carried out by chatting and video conferencing, all in real-time. It has helped a lot of students, who were looking for flexibility in time because of job and other responsibilities. It has also been recorded that the number of students has increased in those schools who have introduced this model in their curriculum.